Superhero Gone Bad

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

        I followed Fire to his motorcycle. "Can't I just follow you?" I asked. He looked at me. "Where's the fun in that?" he asked. I shrugged. "I guess I can go on that thing," I said, cringing at the thought. Fire hopped on and I got on behind him. I held on to him hestiantly at first, then when we started going, I clutched him hard. I felt him chuckle. Wind was whipping my face, so I made it go away. I started to feel apprehensive about my decision. What would everyone think when the found out?

        Twenty minutes later, we pulled up at a mini cottage hidden by the trees. If I hadn't been with Fire, I wouldn't have noticed it. He stopped the motorcycle and said, "We're here." I hopped off, my legs a little shaky from riding. "So now what?" I asked. He smirked. "Since it's two in the morning, I thought we could sleep before going to the HQ," he said. I nodded. I took a step and almost fell, but Fire caught me. "Unsteady, are we?" he asked, amusement filling his eyes. "You'll get used it it."

      I rolled my eyes. "I don't have to," I said. "I'm a flyer, remember?" He chuckled. "How could I forget?" he said. "Now, c'mon." I followed him in the house and said, "You know, people might think we're dating now that we live together." He laughed. "Are you asking me out, Marcie?" he asked. "No," I said. "But do you really think I should change my name?" He nodded. "Marcie sounds badass. Jamie sounds girly," he said. I scowled.

     I yawned. "Looks like someone's tired," Fire said. "I only have one bed, you know." I nodded, not caring. "Follow me, sleepy Marcie," he said, smiling. I took a step and almost fell over. "Hey, we don't need you falling over," he said, sliding an arm under both of mine. He walked me to a room with a medium-sized bed. I slumped down on it. Since I was already in my nightie, I started to fall asleep. My mask was bothering me. I felt the bed dip as Fire got in next to me.

    "Night, Marcie," Fire said softly. "Night, Fire," I said. He lay down and I fell a little toward him. I was already almost asleep so I unconciously hugged him and pulled him closer to me. He stiffened and then chuckled, putting his hand on the back of my head. I snuggled up to his side and sighed. After a minute, I fell into a deep sleep.

~*~

    I woke up the next morning feeling happy and sad. Then I realized I had school today. I shot out of bed then remembered where I was. Fire was already up. "Hey, Fire?" I said. He laughed. "You look funny in the morning," he said. "Your hair looks like a rat nest." I scowled. "I need a shower and I need to go to school," I said. I looked at his clock. Eight o'clock. "Crap!" I said. "I'm going to be late!" I scrambled out of bed. "Hey, Fire?" I asked. "Yeah?" he said. "Can I borrow some of your clothes?" I asked. He chuckled, nodding. 

   "Where's the shower?" I asked. He pointed down the hall. "Just put the clothes near the door," I said. "Don't come in." He smirked. "No promises," he said. i scowled, dashing down the hall. I closed the door only to find there was no lock. "Shit," I muttered. I stripped, setting my mask down carefully, where I could see it. I turned the shower on and made the water hot so I wouldn't have to wait. 

     I washed my hair and body quickly. I noticed Fire came in and left me clothes. He also didn't touch my mask. I silently thanked him and slipped into the clothes. He gave me a baggy pair of sweatpants and a huge black T-shirt. I rolled my eyes and slipped my sneakers back on. I clipped my mask in my hair before running out of the room. "Fire!" I called. "Where are you?" He came around a corner, smirking. He handed me a piece of toast and said, "Nice clothes." I nodded. "Yeah, thanks," I said. "Now, let's go."

    He smiled. "I don't have to go to school," he said. I stared at him. "Why not?" He shrugged. "I just don't," he said. "Then I'll just fly," I said, shrugging. "Aw, c'mon, Marcie," he said. "I know you like it when you have to grab me." I just looked at him, blushing. "Fine, take me to school," I said. He handed me a helmet and we ran out to his motorcycle. He revved the engine and we were off.

    I got to school twenty minutes late. "Crap," I said. "I'm in so much trouble." Fire shrugged and helped me down. "Meet you back here at three," he said, kissing my cheek. I blushed, putting my hand to my face. As soon as he was out of sight I ripped my mask off and stuffed it into my backpack. I ran into school and into class.

    The whole class turned to stare at me. "And where have you been?" Mrs. Maddy asked madly. I shrugged, trying to seem like I didn't care. "You've got lunch detention," she said furiously. I shrugged again and slithered to my seat. A few people were looking at me weirdly, but that was normal. Kristina wasn't in this class, so I had to sit alone. 

   I plopped down in my chair and heard a few snickers. I sighed. Then I looked around and noticed most of the guys were staring at me and the girls were glaring. What did I do? I looked down and noticed FIre's shirt went down really low. I pulled it up and slumped down so my chest was covered. Fire could've told me. 

    By the time lunch came, I was exhausted and starving. "Selena!" I whirled around to find Kristina. "Hey, Krissy!" I said. "I missed you!" She pulled me into a hug. "Me too!" she said. "Now, c'mon. I'm starving." She pulled me to the lunch line and I picked a cheeseburger and fries. We sat down at an empty table and, as we started to eat, Kasper and Dustin sat down across from us. We stopped eating and gave each other a look. 

   "What are you doing here?" Kristina asked. Dustin shrugged and Kasper said, "Can't I sit with my baby sister?" He reached across the table and ruffled Kristina's hair. She slapped his hand and said, "Yeah, but don't you have 'opoular' people to sit by?" I asked. Dustin gave me a look. "We're sitting here and that's final," he stated. A few people were looking our way and whispering. 

   Then someone's phone started ringing. I looked at Kristina and said, "Is it yours?" She rolled her eyes, smiling. "No, it's yours," she said. I pulled my phone out. It was mine. A number I didn't recognize was calling. I flipped it open, turning slightly away. "Hello?" I said. "Hey." It was Fire. "Oh, hey, FIre," I said. "Is there a particular reason you're calling, or..?" I heard him chuckle. "Oh, nothing," he said. "It's just that I might be early picking you up, that's all." I sighed. 

   "I'll be waiting outside," I said. "And I have to go home for a little to get some clothes. I can't keep wearing your huge ones." He laughed again and said, "Sure, Marcie, sure." I sighed. "How did you get my phone number?" I asked. "Stole your phone while you were in the shower and got it," he said. I laughed. "Okay, I gotta go," I said. "I'm starving." He laughed. "Okay, see you later, Marce," he said and hung up.

   I turned back to see Kasper and Dustin giving me glares and Kristina was giving me a knowing look. "What?" I asked, getting defensive. "Who was that?" Kristina asked. "A friend," I said slowly. "What the Hell kind of name is Fire?" Dustin asked angrily. I gave him a look. "What the Hell kind of name is Dustin?" I mocked. "Shut up!" he said. "I'll pound your face in!" I stared at him and rose my eyebrows. "Really," I said, blinking slowly. "I'd like to see you try."

   "Huh," he said. "Then come over here." I laughed. "No," I said. "You come here." He stood up angrily and stalked over to me. A small crowd was gathering. I stood up slowly. "Come at me, bro," I taunted. He growled and tried to punch me in the face. I duckked and spun around. I didn't exactly want to hurt him. He growled again and kicked out. I easily sidestepped.

   People started to laugh at Dustin. "Getting kicked by Mary!" "What a wimp!" taunts were going around like candy and I gulped nervously. I could easily kill him, but I really didn't want to do that. "Dustin?" I asked. "Do you think-" He punched me in the eye. I held my face and acted like it didn't hurt. "Really?" I asked. He smiled smugly. "I win," he said. I waited a few seconds before pulling my hand away from my eye. "Really?" I said. "I didn't feel a thing." 

   People were looking at me in awe and Dustin looked shocked. "That's not possible!" he shouted. "I punched you really hard!" Kristina stood up. "That's enough!" she said. "Punching girls is an asshole thing to do and it's rude and obnoxious!" Dustin looked down and rubbed his head sheepishly. "Say sorry to Selena," Kristina said, pointing to me. "No," he said stubbornly. "I said, say sorry to Selena," Kristina growled out. He glanced at me quickly. "Sorry," he said. sarcastically. "Like you mean it," Kristina said. "I'm so sorry, Selena," he said mockingly. "Will you please forgive me?" 

   I slapped him and said, "Next time you won't get off so easy." He rolled his eyes and laughed. The bell rang for the next class and I pulled Kristina after me. "Thanks," I said, thankful for someone to have my back. "No problem," she said. "I knew he didn't hit you all that hard, but still it was rude." I nodded as we made our way to class.